Parent Conferences Next Week

We will be conducting virtual parent teacher conferences next week. You should have received an invitation from your student's team by yesterday (Friday) afternoon.

Time slots for conferences will be offered on Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11. 

Students will be dismissed on Thursday at 1:00 as usual. There will not be virtual classes in the afternoon. On Friday, December 11th there will be no school.

Survey for BPS In-Person (Hybrid) Parents/Guardians

The district is committed to collecting feedback from families about your experience in the hybrid model this fall. We'd like to know how learning has been going for your child and family so that we can evaluate the strengths of our program and any areas that could use improvement. Please review the link below- your opinions and thoughts are important! 

As we know that each child's experience may be different, we would ask you to complete a separate response for each child. In order to ensure the most accurate data possible, please complete the survey for each child only one time. Thank you!

Survey for BPS In-Person (Hybrid) Parents/Guardians

Friday Message from the Superintendent

A message from the superintendent went out to families late Friday afternoon and is replicated here for your reference:

Good Afternoon to all members of the Beverly School Community,

I am reaching out to you today with an update from the district. First, let me thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe. Our student’s vigilance in complying with the safety measures we have implemented, namely wearing of face coverings, distancing, adhering to the cohort model, and most importantly, self-monitoring of symptoms, has allowed our schools to remain open for in-person instruction for students grades PK -12. Whether your child attends our schools in the hybrid model (a combination of in-person and synchronous learning which is slightly different at each level) or is a member of our Remote Learning Academy, our students have benefitted from uninterrupted, consistent instruction from our amazing teachers and staff! Throughout the fall, our strategy has been to plan for every eventuality, prepare for different scenarios, and utilize a variety of teaching modalities to provide the opportunity to access learning that is meaningful and addresses academics, social and emotional needs and the well-being of all our students. We believe that the proactive approach to planning ahead has contributed to our success in keeping our kids in school and to the safety of our students and staff. To date, though we have experienced isolated positive cases of COVID-19, there has been no evidence of community spread in our school community. This is a testament to the work of our administrators, all our staff, and to you, our families, working together to put the safety and well-being of our students first.

To that end, I am writing today to let you know that in planning ahead for the winter break, we will have our last in-person day for all students on Friday, December 18th. Students will attend classes remotely on December 21,22, and 23. Additionally, we will remain in remote instruction for the first week of January (Jan. 4 - 8). We will return to in-person instruction on Monday, January 11th. Please note that all of our remote learning days are required and as such attendance is mandatory. We believe that this schedule will allow our families and staff to take the necessary precautions to return in-person and resume our instruction in the safest way possible. We also feel that making this decision early will allow the appropriate notice for you to make the necessary arrangements for your family. We are working with local child care providers and letting them know of our plans. If you are registered in one of the child care programs, you will hear directly from them regarding availability for care during our remote period.

Finally, I want to let you know that we continue to update our website with important information for families regarding COVID-19 and the schools. We are maintaining a district dashboard that documents cases. We have shifted our communication regarding positive cases to eliminate the broader general Not a Close Contact but have included a copy of the letter on our website for your reference. We will continue to notify all school community members if an individual within their cohort (class, team, neighborhood) reports an active positive case and has been present in the school within the past seven (7) days. We hope that this will reduce some of the confusion regarding multiple notifications. You may also reach out with any questions to our nursing staff at covidquestions@beverlyschools.org

Once again, I want to thank you for your partnership in educating our students. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Sue Charochak, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Virtual Yearbook Club

 Do you like photography? How about graphic design? Have an interest in photo editing and layout? Want to lend a hand in creating this year's BMS yearbook? If you answered YES! to any of these questions, please come to our first virtual meeting on Tuesday, December 8th at 3:00 pm to find out more information about the yearbook club. 

Join our Google Classroom page here if you'd like to be invited to the meeting (code: qf3un6d).

BMS Staff in the News!

A couple of our outstanding Beverly Middle School staff are local media stars! Check out this recent news coverage about Jill McGinnity, who teaches 6th grade humanities, and one of our fabulous art teachers, Alina Zalucki.

Free Hits high school field hockey column: Danvers' McGinnity calls it a coaching career - Salem News, Dec 2, 2020

Revere Artist Colors the City (video) - NBC Boston, Dec. 3, 2020

Virtual Yearbook Club

Do you like photography? How about graphic design? Have an interest in photo editing and layout? Want to lend a hand in creating this year's BMS yearbook? If you answered YES! to any of these questions, please come to our first virtual meeting on Tuesday, December 8th at 3:00 pm to find out more information about the yearbook club. 

Join our Google Classroom page here if you'd like to be invited to the meeting (code: qf3un6d).

Holiday Drive for COA Ends Tomorrow

We have heard that our Beverly Council on Aging needs help to create Holiday Care Packages for our elderly Beverly residents. 

Since BMS keeps demonstrating how we can have a BIG impact for good- let’s work together to create Happy Holidays for our neighbors? Here are the items they need: 

• Flameless candles 
• Colored pencils/crayons 
• New non-slip bottom socks 
• Hats/Scarves/Gloves (newly purchased only) 
• Calendars 
• Activity books (word search, sudoku, crossword, etc.) 
• Lip Balm 
• Hot chocolate/tea bags (individual boxes) 
• Individual cans of low sodium soups 
• Candy/Snacks (sugar-free options) 
• Hand-written letters/cards 
• Puzzles 
• Adult coloring books 

Please bring all items to donate the BMS Front Lobby during the week of 11/30-12/4.

Last Week: Book Shop Fundraiser

The Book Shop of Beverly Farms is hosting an online Book Fair in conjunction with the Beverly High School National Honor Society, so kids and and their families can get some hand-selected books for the holiday season, with an eye toward encouraging reading and the best new works out this fall. 

Even better, 20% of all sales from the Book Fair will go straight to buy books for the Beverly School libraries at deep discounts -- just put "Beverly Book Fair" in the Notes field at checkout. 

The fair will run from November 19 through December 9. There are different delivery options, including pickup at the store and delivery here at BMS, along with shipping.

They have preselected some great titles for you, but you can also shop in person, and tell them at checkout that you'd like to be part of the Beverly Book Fair to send 20% to purchasing books for the school libraries.

See this page for suggested titles and book fair details or call the Book Shop from 10 - 4 on weekdays at 978-927-2122.

Holiday Drive for Council on Aging

 We have heard that our Beverly Council on Aging needs help to create Holiday Care Packages for our elderly Beverly residents. 

Since BMS keeps demonstrating how we can have a BIG impact for good- let’s work together to create Happy Holidays for our neighbors? Here are the items they need: 

• Flameless candles 
• Colored pencils/crayons 
• New non-slip bottom socks 
• Hats/Scarves/Gloves (newly purchased only) 
• Calendars 
• Activity books (word search, sudoku, crossword, etc.) 
• Lip Balm 
• Hot chocolate/tea bags (individual boxes) 
• Individual cans of low sodium soups 
• Candy/Snacks (sugar-free options) 
• Hand-written letters/cards 
• Puzzles 
• Adult coloring books 

Please bring all items to donate the BMS Front Lobby during the week of 11/30-12/4.

Band & Chorus Virtual on Tuesday

 Both Band and Chorus will be virtual on Tuesday afternoon, December 1.

The Band schedule for Google Meets is as follows. Students should check emails or Google Classroom for their meet links.

• 1:30 - 5th Grade Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones 
• 1:30 - 6th Grade Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones 
• 2:00 - 5th Grade Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns, Baritones 
• 2:00 - 6th Grade Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns, Baritones 
• 2:30 - 5th Grade Percussion 
• 2:30 - 6th Grade Percussion 

Have a great day, see you this afternoon!

Holiday Drive for COA

We have heard that our Beverly Council on Aging needs help to create Holiday Care Packages for our elderly Beverly residents. 

Since BMS keeps demonstrating how we can have a BIG impact for good- let’s work together to create Happy Holidays for our neighbors? Here are the items they need: 

• Flameless candles 
• Colored pencils/crayons 
• New non-slip bottom socks 
• Hats/Scarves/Gloves (newly purchased only) 
• Calendars 
• Activity books (word search, sudoku, crossword, etc.) 
• Lip Balm 
• Hot chocolate/tea bags (individual boxes) 
• Individual cans of low sodium soups 
• Candy/Snacks (sugar-free options) 
• Hand-written letters/cards 
• Puzzles 
• Adult coloring books 

Please bring all items to donate the BMS Front Lobby during the week of 11/30-12/4.

Gr 8 - Essex Tech Virtual Q&A Monday Night at 6

 The Essex Tech Virtual Open House is now open and will remain available on their website for students and families to view.

There is a Virtual Q&A sessions scheduled for Monday, November 30, 2020 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm - here is the Zoom Link.

Book Shop Fundraiser Through 12/9

The Book Shop of Beverly Farms is hosting an online Book Fair in conjunction with the Beverly High School National Honor Society, so kids and and their families can get some hand-selected books for the holiday season, with an eye toward encouraging reading and the best new works out this fall. 

Even better, 20% of all sales from the Book Fair will go straight to buy books for the Beverly School libraries at deep discounts -- just put "Beverly Book Fair" in the Notes field at checkout. 

The fair will run from November 19 through December 9. There are different delivery options, including pickup at the store and delivery here at BMS, along with shipping.

They have preselected some great titles for you, but you can also shop in person, and tell them at checkout that you'd like to be part of the Beverly Book Fair to send 20% to purchasing books for the school libraries.

See this page for suggested titles and book fair details or call the Book Shop from 10 - 4 on weekdays at 978-927-2122.

Monday - Virtual Band Practice

Due to the high chance of precipitation on Monday afternoon, band practice is going virtual for Cohort A (Monday the 30th).

Here is the schedule for today's band rehearsals! Please remember that we do take attendance for these like we do for in-person band. This is the same as last week's schedule and the links are the same too and have been emailed to you.

• 1:30 - 5th Grade Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones 
• 1:30 - 6th Grade Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones
• 2:00 - 5th Grade Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns, Baritones
• 2:00 - 6th Grade Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns, Baritones 
• 2:30 - 5th Grade Percussion 
• 2:30 - 6th Grade Percussion 

We're keeping an eye on the weather forecast - the rain may clear in time to have band practice outside on Tuesday, and it's set to be fairly warm. We will keep you posted and let you know by end of day on Monday so you can plan accordingly.

Postcards to & from around the world

Card from Minsk, Belarus

We've recently received several Postcrossing cards from Slovenia, Belarus, England and Switzerland! We have also sent cards to China, India, and Canada. And one of our cards, to Spain, was received last week.

You can see our cards on the BMS Postcrossing blog - and they are also on display in the lobby at school, in the library windows.

For more information about Postcrossing or how you can participate, contact Ms. Woznick at awoznick@ beverlyschools.org.

Our BMS Postcrossing account is supported by the BMS PTO, who have supplied funds for stamps and cards. Thank you!

Essex Tech Virtual Open House and Q&A Tomorrow

The Essex Tech Virtual Open House is now open and will remain available on their website for students and families to view.

There is a Virtual Q&A sessions scheduled for Monday, November 30, 2020 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm - here is the Zoom Link.